GATE 2026 Environmental Science and Engineering Syllabus OUT: Check Dates, Syllabus, Books, and More

Linear Algebra

Determinants and Matrices | Systems of Linear Equations | Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors

Calculus

Functions | Limit | Continuity | Differentiability | Local Maxima and Minima | Taylor Series | Test for Convergence | Definite and Indefinite Integrals | Application of Definite Integral to Obtain Area and Volume | Partial and Total Derivatives

Differential Equations

Linear and Non-Linear First-Order Differential Equations (ODE) | Higher Order Linear ODE’s with constant coefficients | Cauchy’s and Euler’s Equations | Laplace Transform and its Applications in Solving Linear ODEs

Probability and Statistics

Descriptive Statistics | Measurement of Central Tendency | Dispersion | Skewness and Kurtosis | Probability Concepts | Conditional Probability | Baye’s Theorem | Risk and Reliability | Probability Distributions | Correlation | Single and Multiple Regression Models | Hypothesis Testing (t-Test, F-Test, chi-square test)

Fundamentals of Environmental Chemistry

Covalent and Iconic Bonding | Chemical Equations | Concentration and Activity | Structure and Chemistry of Organic Molecules | Radioactivity of Elements | Chemical Equilibria | Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Chemical Reactions

Principles of Water Chemistry

Water quality parameters and their measurement | Acid-base equilibria | Buffer solution | Carbonate system | Solubility of gases in water | Complexation, precipitation, and redox reactions | Inorganic and organic contaminants in water and their speciation

Soil Chemistry

Organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, cation exchange capacity, base saturation, and Sodium absorption ratio

Atmospheric Chemistry

Composition of the atmosphere | Reactivity of trace substances in the atmosphere | Urban atmosphere - smog and particulate pollution | Chemistry of Ozone formation | Chemistry of Stratosphere

Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Microbiology

Characteristics of Diverse Groups of Microorganisms | Classification of Microorganisms | Microbial Diversity | Plant Microbe and Soil Microbe Interactions | Role of Microorganisms in Wastewater Treatment | Bioremediation and Biogeochemical Cycling

Cell Chemistry and Cell Biology

Structure of Proteins, Nucleic Acid (DNA and RNA) | Lipids and Polysaccharides | Bonds in Biomolecules | Stereoisomerism in Biomolecules | Structure of cell | Structure and function of cytoplasmic membrane | Cell wall | Outer membrane | Glycocalyx, Chromosomes, Endospores, Storage products, Mitochondria, and Chloroplasts

Microbial Metabolism

Anabolism and Catabolism | Phosphorylation | Glycolysis | TCA Cycle | Electron Transport Chain | Fermentation | Anaerobic Respiration | Energy Balances | Enzymes and Enzyme Kinetics

Growth and Control of Microorganisms

Bacterial Nutrition and Growth | Specific Growth Rate and Doubling Time | Monod’s Model | Types of Culture Media | Batch and Continuous Culture | Effects of Environmental Factors on Growth | Control of Microbes using Physical and Chemical Methods

Microbiology and Health

Pathogens and Modes of Transmission | Indicator organisms | Quantification of Coliforms using MPN and Membrane Filtration Techniques

Global Water Resources

Structure, Properties and Distribution of Water | Water Quality | Threats to Water Resources | Water Conservation

Surface Water Resources

Hydrological Cycle and Water Balance - Infiltration, Evapotransportation, Runoff | Flow Hydrographs | Unit Hydrographs | State Discharge Relationship | Reservoir Capacity | Reservoir and Chanel Routing | Surface Run-Off Models | Surface Water Management | Rain Water Harvesting and Storage

Groundwater Resources

Geologic Formations as Aquifers | Vadose and Saturated Zones | Confined and Unconfined Aquifers and their parameters - Porosity, Permeability, Transmissivity and Storage Coefficient | Darcy’s Law and Applications | Steady state well hydraulics

Environmental Hydraulics

Concepts of Mechanics | Properties of Fluids | Pressure Measurement | Hydrostatic Force of Surfaces | Buoyancy and Floatation | Laminar and Turbulent Flow | Flow Through Pipes | Pipe Networks | Boundary Layer Theory | Forces on Immersed Bodies | Flow Measurement in Channels and Pipes | Kinematics of Flow, Continuity, Momentum, and Energy Equations | Channel Hydraulics - Specific Energy, Critical Flow, Hydraulic Jump, Rapid and Gradually Varied Flow | Design of Lined and Unlined Channels

Water and Wastewater Quality Parameters

Eutrophication and Thermal Stratification in Lakes | River Pollution - Oxygen Sag Curve

Water Treatment Methods

Screening | Sedimentation with and without Coagulation | Filtration | Desalination | Disinfection | Water Distribution and Storage

Point and Non-Point Sources of Wastewater

Population Forecasting Methods | Design of Sewer and Storm Water Sewers | Sewer Appurtenances | Preliminary, Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sewage Treatment | Sludge Generation, Processing, and Disposal Methods | Sewage Farming

Sources and Characteristics of Industrial Effluents

Concept of Common Effluent Treatment Plans (CETP) | Wastewater Recycling and Zero Liquid Discharge

Kinetics and Reactor Design

Mass and Energy Balance | Order and Rate of Reactions | Batch Reactors | Completely Mixed Flow Reactors | Plug Flow Reactors

Air and Noise Pollution

Structure of the Atmosphere | Natural and Anthropogenic Sources of Pollution | Effect of Health and Environment | Air Pollution: Gases and Particulate Matter | Air Quality Standards: Primary and Secondary Pollutants | Criteria Pollutants | Ambient and Source Standards | Air Quality Indices | Visibility

Particulate Pollutants

Measurement and Control Methods | Control of Particulate Air Pollutants using Gravitational Settling Chambers, Cyclone Separators, Wet Collectors, Fabric Filters (Bag-House Filter) | Electrostatic Precipitators (ESP)

Gaseous Pollutants

Measurement and Control Methods | Control of Gaseous Contaminants: Adsorption, Absorption, Condensation, and Combustion | Control of Sulphur Oxides, Nitrogen Oxides, Carbon Monoxide, and Hydrocarbons | Vapour-Liquid and Vapour-Solid Equilibria | Diffusion | Fick’s Law and Interfacial Mass Transfer | Automotive Emission Controls | Fuel Quality | Diesel Particulate Filters | Catalytic Convertors

Air Quality Management

Point, Line, and Area Sources | Inventory, Influence of Meteorology -Wind and Rose Diagrams | Stability, Mixing Height, Topography, Dispersion Modelling, and Monitoring

Noise Pollution

Sources | Health Effects | Standards | Measurement and Control Methods

Integrated solid-waste management

Waste Hierarchy | Rules and Regulations for Solid Waste Management in India

Municipal Solid-Waste Management

Sources | Generation | Characteristics, Collection, Transportation, Waste Processing, and Disposal (including reuse options, biological methods, energy recovery processes and landfilling)

Hazardous Waste Management

Characteristics, Generation, Fate of Materials in the Environment, treatment and Disposal | Soil Contamination and Leaching of Contaminants into Groundwater

Management of Biomedical Waste, Plastic Waste, and E-waste

Sources, Generation and Characteristics | Waste Management Practices, including storage, collection, and transfer

Global Effects of Air Pollution

Greenhouse gases | Global warming | Climate Change | Urban Heat Islands | Acid Rain | Ozone Hole

Ecology and Various Ecosystems

Biodiversity | Factors influencing increase in population | Energy consumption | Environmental degradation

Environmental Management Systems

ISO 14000 Series | Environmental Auditing | Environmental Impact Assessment | Life Cycle Assessment | Human Health Risk Assessment

Environmental Law and Policy

Objectives: Polluter pays principle | Precautionary principle | The Water and Air Acts with Amendments | The Environment (Protection) Act EPA 1986 | National Green Tribunal Act 2010 | National Environmental Policy | Principles of International Law and International Treaties

Energy and Environment

Energy Sources | Overview of Resources and Reserves | Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy Sources | Energy-Environmental Nexus

Sustainable Development

Definition and Concepts of Sustainable Development | Sustainable Development Goals | Hurdles to Sustainability | Environment and Economics

A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning

R.S Agarwal

A Handbook of Engineering Mathematics

B.S Grewal

GATE Engineering Mathematics for All

Arihant Publications

Fundamentals of Environmental Chemistry

Manahan, S.E

Brock Biology of Microorganisms

Micheal T. Madigan, John M. Martinko

Water Supply Engineering

SK Garg

Principles of Environmental Science

Cunningham W.P and Cunningham M.A